Quitting blogging

On my recent days off I have spent a lot of time on my blog and have been reading quite a few posts from other bloggers, looking in particular at posting rituals of a wide variety of blogs. I like to see how everyone is different and how blogging works for them. Whether this is once a week or five times a day, posting frequency depends on the kind of blog.

However what I have noticed is there are certain blogs that have posted rather frequently (at least once every 2-5 days) that have seemingly just put and end to posting. The ones I noticed seemed to be relatively new blogs that I guess trialed out this whole WordPress thing and decided to call it a day. This is a big shame.

We all feel that we have a story to tell. And we do. The problem is when we set up a platform to share those stories we feel the little effort it took us to do so deserves the world’s attention immediately. This isn’t the case for everyone, some people just get bored of the repetitive nature or just move on to other things after realising this isn’t for them. But some bloggers quit after finding out that gaining a following and traffic doesn’t come overnight.

How many blogs don’t you know about? Most of them. WordPress has tens of millions of websites and the reason we don’t know about them isn’t necessarily because they are bad. Some of them will be for sure, however the main reason is because there are just so many of them out there.

They say if 99% of people think you’re ugly, 75 million people find you attractive. That is a hell of a lot of people that would be happy to call you theirs, but it isn’t easy to find those people. We have to put the effort in, leave our comfort zones and get out there. The chances that those 75,000,000 are knocking on your door are incredibly slim, life isn’t that easy. But it isn’t too difficult either, it just takes time and effort.

I was going to say it takes patience, and although this is true I didn’t want to use that word. I am not really a fan of the phrase ‘good things come to those that wait’, as it promotes reward for laziness. Good things come to those that want good things to happen, usually by action. Wealth doesn’t come by being patient enough to see the day, and blogging success doesn’t come by hitting the publish button and expecting people to read it. Readers like bloggers commitment. They like to know the routine of upload as to know when to expect new material. Readers like bloggers that don’t expect everything handed to them and acknowledge the time and effort that needs to be put into writing. Bloggers that set up a site and expect overnight success are doomed to fail, and this is true in almost every aspect of life.

What I love about blogging is that writing has taught me this and helped me understand the path to success isn’t an short one. I have a long way to go but a long road still has an end. Turning that car around isn’t going to do anything but take you back to where you were before, and there must have been a reason to start that journey in the first place.

118 thoughts

Yeah! Sometimes it does. But I still believe it depends on how you present yourself, what part you take and the zeal to be persistent.

Blogging is a very large world with varieties of species trying to make it through. Just as Darwin would say: “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one responsive to change”.

So the big question is; How well are we willing to make Changes to survive in the long run.

There’s so much you said here that resonates with how I think about success too, in particular what you said about not being a fan of the phrase “good things come to those that wait.” This is part of the reason why so many people are alone when they want love, for example… because they play the waiting game when they should be making an effort and trying to actively look for what they want.

However, I am also guilty of not having a regular posting schedule. I used to when I first started blogging but the reasons for lagging are complicated. Sometimes it’s because people feel their blog is so small that it’s not a big deal to post often. Other times, they are waiting for the right kind of material to come their way (which is sometimes the case with me). And other times (also the case for me) blogging is not a person’s main way of communicating or their main goal in life. e.g. I want to be a fiction writer, so I’m always pursuing that in my life whether I’m blogging or not. Sometimes a blog is supplementary to the writing a person is doing offline, so they don’t tend to post as much–not because they lost interest, but rather because they’re putting their energy into their main purpose in life.

To me the most important thing has always been the connections people make when they come across content they connect with. So it’s not so important to me whether I built a large following or not… I just want to let people know they’re not alone and to form those connections with them and be available to them as a friend or ally.

Yeah I am not a fan of the waiting game anymore! People are of course free to post as frequently or not, but it is good to know that with a regular schedule blogs seem to benefit greatly. It is sometimes hard to find inspiration and I feel lucky that I am currently travelling as I use plenty of photos along the way to fuel my posts.

Also I feel being a writer can be a great way to keep blogging, I want to write a book eventually and instead of doing it without an audience, I decided to start blogging and as I add material for a book to my blog, I will hopefully gain an audience big enough to be interested in my book. It can be a great benefit to both! However I totally understand that if this is not someone’s main interest, energy will be saved for elsewhere.

Hey Sam, yes exactly. And after I posted I realized I was being a bit inconsistent in my comment. haha I was saying I don’t like the waiting game, and yet I play the waiting game for materials sometimes xD I try.

Also, as someone who is studying publishing, I can tell you for sure that author Platform is something that publishers consider seriously when deciding whether or not to publish a book (in traditional, print publishing). So building a platform or online presence will count in your favor if you intend to publish someday through the traditional way. There are definitely examples of people who have started out blogging online then turned their material into print books. Basically, having an online presence lets the publisher know that there is a pre-existing market for the book and that encourages them to invest in the book.

You’re lucky you get to travel so much 😀 It must be really fun and I’m sure there’s lots you can say in a book. 🙂

I have two blogs now because my original blog, The Snail Trail, is more researched, detailed and time consuming so my posts are irregular. I didn’t want to give it up so I started a second blog, The Daily Snail, which I post to daily with quick snippets of information about what captures my fancy that day – less words, more pictures. Both are about my travels as a ‘grey nomad’, the places I go and the people I meet but The Daily Snail responds to these experiences more immediately. I blog more for me than anyone else so number of followers is inconsequential- although sometimes I look at very simple, and not particularly well written blogs with thousands of followers and I wonder how they did it 😎

Well done on managing two, I couldn’t handle it haha. Love the names as well.

I guess some blogs have plenty of followers despite badly written and short posts due to factors outside of these posts… they may be constantly engaging with other people on other blogs and be here 24/7. Like I said, if 99% think you’re ugly, there’s still a hell of a lot of people that think otherwise! It is about getting out there and finding them whatever the strategy unless of course, a following isn’t a priority 🙂

I actually didn’t start blogging to get followers, l started to blog my journal entries to help me with my anxiety (it has helped heaps to put my words out there for anyone to read) but of course it’s nice when someone does read one of my blogs 😁
Most of the bloggers l found are hikers or have also been through things similar to me.

I was a mix of the two. I wanted a following to hopefully write a book that an audience wanted to read, but it also helped relieve the pressure of my constant and often negative thoughts. I am pleased it has helped for you! It is a great way to meet like minded people, as well as realise you are never alone in anything 🙂

Like Deb, I didn’t start my blog to get followers. I write from my heart, share bits and pieces from my travels and my life. I love that I’ve managed to create a small community of like minded writers. Love this blogging but at the end of the day it’s a balance. 🙂

Very good topic, apt for me to read at this point of time.
I am quite a new blogger, 2+ month old. While starting the blog, I had so much of hesitations on many what ifs…..
Then I though of blogging as it can help me to improve my writing and cultivate some discipline too.. Sometimes, I feel the post is not good enough..people around me keep giving different kind of feedback on my writing and quite contradictory to one another. That’s when one of my friend asked me not to worry too much about others comments as I may loose authenticity, if I try to match writing to others expectations…

So your sentence ” if 99% of people think you’re ugly, 75 million people find you attractive” made me think about it 🙂

Thank you for reading, I agree although feedback is great and can be of benefit, it is also important to not just blog to make others happy. You are you for a reason and there are plenty of people our there that enjoy you for who you are. It is all about that balance between taking feedback in and ensuring that you remain authentic.

I write often especially when we go away for a week or two or when hubby is interstate working. I usually spend a few hours in the evenings or if the weather is poor, I might write all day. I save and edit and post for a later date.

I started my blog in 2013 and promptly lost my password and at the time, no matter how often I tried to get a new password, it failed so I gave up. Before my surgery last November I decided to try again and bingo, my first try I was online again. Weird.

I have no idea how long I will blog for this time but for now I enjoy it.

I have had followers who are worried about the new block editor. I have no idea what it is but I’m comfortable with what I have now. If it becomes compulsory and I don’t like it, or have difficulties like a few boggers do, then I’ll quit. I quit Facebook because of all the changes. Technology is fine, even for this retired old biddy but I don’t have the patience anymore with changes that are not needed. Why toss something out if it works perfectly well.

Nah… don’t follow in my footsteps. You do as you can but ut is a more organised method.

I have a follower who is blind and she switch by accident to the new editor and couldn’t post and needed someone to remove it. It’s doesnt sound easy and could leave our blind and less abled bloggers unable to continue.

That’s a nice pace, sometimes daily blogging can be very difficult with posting and responding to comments and engaging if I am working, I may have to take a step back a little and blog a little less frequently if it gets too much. Every two weeks is the dream! 😀

You are so wise⭐️Your words are like music to my ears.
Well, I am quilty of not blogging every day, but I I trying. I am blogging about everything that cross my mind. My life from childhood off and it is therapy for me❤️ I hope I reach some people out there and they can think «I am not alone»…
I love your way to write and reading it is my little every day glow, thank you🦋
I hope your day will be a good one⭐️

Oh thank you! I really appreciate it and I am pleased you enjoyed the read 🙂

Don’t feel guilty for not blogging daily, do it as much as you want to 🙂 However if you do want to do it daily it is possible however takes time to find ways to manage it. I love what your blog is about and your reasons for blogging, I wish you all the best on your blog in 2019! 🙂

You are very right. In some cases only 1 out of a 1000 may like you and then is even harder to complete the journey which leads you into a successful blogger. There is a mixture of factors such as consistency, engagement and having that spark to reach the readers heart. The road to be a successful blogger is very long and hard and usually it gets even harder if you only aim for that and checking your stats 5 times a day. Everyone should enjoy the things they’re doing to be one step closer.

Great post Sam! This hit the nail on its head. I am a relatively new blogger and it is definitely a lot of hard work. But because I know what my purpose of having a blog is, which is to share my knowledge and at least educate one person, I’m in this for the long haul! Congrats on your success and keep on blogging!

I started blogging because I did not feel great about myself. I felt like I did have anything that defined me. I was telling a friend how I felt and he asked me what I liked to do. I told him writing, traveling, and food. He gave me the idea to start a blog. It will be 2 years this Friday. Blogging has really help me feel better about myself. I have something that is mine.

Blogging can be great to fill that void. I can relate to that as I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in life, I played sports less as I got older and blogging was perfect for me to remain productive and active. I am pleased your friend recommended blogging to you, and to do it for two years is great. I hope you continue to enjoy it and all the best in 2019!

I tend to run into many hiccups when I start to blog again. Particularly the loss of resources (internet and phone/laptop) or my depression lives me stuck. But I genuinely want to journal all these experiences I have being poor, black, immigrant and woman but a cursory glance at my blog will show you how much I falter. How much I gaslight myself into believing it’s not worth it and end up not posting. But I’m doing better now. Especially because the blog is secret unlike the old one that I have abandoned because I felt invaded by too many familiar faces.

Only you can convince yourself that you should blog, and I have to do this a lot. I am always considering if it is worth it but every day I see growth here and engage with people I know that it is. We are one of the first generations to be able to share our lives with the world and it is an opportunity we should make the most of!

Great post, it’s so easy to get disheartened early on but I think you’ve got to remember why you started blogging and stick at it.
I’ve got in to a steady habit of posting once a week which is regular enough for me and I’m slowly making progress 🙂

Great to hear Jason! I remember that fact that once you get past the 28 day (I think?) mark with something, it becomes a habit and much easier to continue with. Something like that. But I hope this works with blogging too!

I needed this post today. At the moment I feel like I’m just churning stuff out into the world with no real effect; but I love writing, so I’m going to push on 😊 I try to post once a week, sometimes twice depending on my schedule.

I understand the feeling, my first two years I posted quite a lot but didn’t have any real engagement with anyone. But this was because I didn’t engage with anyone either. For me it’s like deciding to not leave the house, you can speak as much as you want but it doesn’t mean people are going to hear you!

I only started to gain readers once I made the move to get out there and engage, however I have also devoted a lot more time to doing so.

Sam, I know exactly how you fee. My blog has been going for seven years and I’m yet to reach the 50 followers mark. Mind you, I started the blog as a cheap form of therapy to help me process my feelings about my divorce, so it’s not as if I started with the intention of starting an online sensation. As to posting schedules, I’m not going to post something if I don’t have something to post about. Life is an irregular thing, and experiences worth writing about are like buses. Keep at it, post whenever you feel like it, don’t post when you don’t.

Thanks for the comments David, I hope blogging has been helping you, it certainly can be a great form of therapy and many of us have been using it for this very reason too. I have been guilty of posting something just to get it out there and more often than not it didn’t feel right. Now I blog when I have something to blog about but don’t worry if the post is too long or short.

I’ve talked to a number of people about blogging. I’ve really gotten into it and have 3 distinctly different blogs that I maintain for different purposes. I find that most people drop away not because of having or not having followers, but because they’ve discovered that writing just isn’t something they enjoy after all. I myself (obviously) enjoy it, but that’s just me. For many people, it can be a chore, and they’d rather spend their time and attention with other things. There’s no right answer.

It is cool you have three blogs Carl! I bet having three differing blogs keeps blogging fresh. I guess for some you need to try blogging to realise if it is something you enjoy, thankfully for us it is but not everyone feels the same. It is all about trying new things and at least they gave it a go!

You have much wisdom for a young man. See you are also somewhat in alignment with the bible when you speak on laziness.
This is from the bible: Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger. Proverbs 19:15 ……….
Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. Ecclesiastes 10:18
I pray that the goodness of God may follow you wherever you go and whatever you do.

I’m so glad I found this post today. Just a few days ago I switched from wordpress.com to .org and lost all my followers. It’s daunting to think about building that followership back up again but I feel encouraged and reminded that I’ve done it before and I can do it again.

I was able to connect my two accounts so that apparently everyone is still getting alerts that I posted. The only thing that seems not to have happened is that my old followers aren’t counted on my new blog.
I’m not the best with technology. I’m learning as I go so you might have more success switching things over.

Oh that’s a relief! I do remember being in a coffee shop and speaking to someone live on the site about switching, I just didn’t do it. I will need to research it fully before doing so! Glad you haven’t lost your following.

Hey Sam, I wanted to let you know that I found the way to migrate followers from wordpress.com to wordpress.org. It’s actually very easy. It’s under settings–>discussions—>then there’s a tab to migrate users. YAY! (Just thought I’d share so you’d know if you do decide to make the switch.) Cheers!

I agree. I was on my #bookstagram account today on IG (I have a personal blog – The Nashville Wife – and a book blog -The Nashville Wife Reads) and there was a post about followers. We get sucked into the world where the goal is to gain followers and fails to continue in the quest of community, sharing and helping others. She wanted to refocus on what her account, her blog was about. There was a girl that commented, a fellow bookstagrammer. She was upset that she didn’t have even 1000 followers yet when her account has been open for 2 years. I found that to be a little odd (she has around 900 followers). I say its odd bc I gained 430 followers in less than one month and trust me, I’m nothing special (lol). The difference? I went back to her posts and there were some where there were 5+ comments and not one was responded to.

My point? When we start something and its not about who we are writing TO… and more about writing for us and wanting someone to notice, someone to find us worthy… we never understood the point to begin with. I read a blog written by Cristian Mihai (http://cristianmihai.net/) – great blogger by the way! – who talked about this and it was really insightful. A game-changer for how I blog. This isn’t about me, is it? It’s cathartic. It’s a way to communicate my thoughts and who doesn’t want to be noticed? Who doesn’t at least want to be heard and told that what they say has value, meaning…

That girl on IG wasn’t wrong for feeling how she felt. But perhaps a shift in priorities might not only get the results she wants, but might also become so much for fulfilling.

i’m probably rambling at this point, hopefully I remained on topic 😉 But this was a good post you wrote and needed to be said so thank you for your time, for your words! They are of value. Significant Value.

I agree with this, some people really don’t understand why their blog doesn’t take off, but is so easy to see! Everyone wants attention in life, it’s human nature. But if readers are getting our attention instead of craving it for ourselves, people will appreciate that and stick around. Why would anyone want to stay loyal to a blogger if that blogger isn’t giving something back in return?

Yes, exactly. I honestly am guilty of this a lot. I have a hard time writing my blogs much less going to others’ sites and reading/commenting on theirs. I have a couple followers that like practically every blog I post and I feel guilty every time lol. But their loyalty makes me, pushes me, to be better and to start going to their sites and returning the favor. Reminds me this is not all about me. <3

I feel you, I have a hard time motivating myself to get out there, it can take me 30 minutes to respond to blogger comments and after that I put out a post and then want to close my laptop for a bit! But then I remember that if people are taking the time to come to my blog and comment, the least I can do is return the favour. But I can certainly improve on this and will do it more often.

I also want to note (i meant to say this in my horribly long comment) but the girl on IG who wanted 1000 followers… she did mention making it more about community, interaction with other book-lovers such as herself. And she does interact and respond with others. I hope it didn’t seem like I was doggin’ on her. My point about her was simply that she didn’t understand how she could post so much over 2 years and only have 900 followers. I think she lost her way (or never knew where she was going to begin with) and I feel that’s how a lot of us are, myself included. When we blog, we join a community. We come here to learn, to experience other lives, to try and enrich our own but to help someone else in their own journey. I am not here so you will read my posts. I am here because I just want to help someone, anyone. I want to be a part of a community. Don’t we all?

aaaaaaand soapbox over. If you actually find the time to read A-L-L of this then bless your heart. <3

Absolutely. We all have our own reasons for being here, for being bloggers. And there’s nothing wrong with writing for just yourself and if others read it, great. If they don’t, that’s fine too if that’s not why you’re here. Just being in the community of others is so rewarding, regardless of why we’re all here ♥️

Haha, I did see your comments before I slept last night but wanted to be awake and able to read them fully before responding. Don’t worry, you kept the blogger anonymous anyways so there is no issue here. And 900 followers is good going anyway!

Being involved in a community is good feeling, and something passed down through evolution. So if we can join one, great. Funnily enough with the amount of time I spend here I am more in touch with the online community as I am my local one outside xD

I know same HERE! And that can be a challenge, too. I try and find ways to overcome that (my husband is a touring musician in Nashville and I have a toddler, I’m a stay at home mom, so seeing people can be hard! lol) but sometimes even going to a coffee shop and blogging, inviting a friend to stop in and have a coffee can be so healthy! and fun 🙂 But thank you for trying to be awake and coherent in order to reply. Much appreciated!

I think some bloggers evaporate because they migrate to another platform. Often another blog host, as mentioned herein. Some establish their own web site instead of blogging. Others, I think, discover that they really just want to connect and communicate a bit. There’s a difference between a Tweeter and a blogger, I believe. Not to compare them, but tweeting is more casual “Wassup”-like chat, and blogging is typically a platform specifically for a creative person. Most often they are writers, but also a lot of photographers and some other artists. Some blogs combine disciplines.
There can be an element of narcissism, as creative people are on that broad shelf that includes performers, and in other ways they seek to connect their creativity to an external validation, or to give away as gifts to the world. That’s where the likes and following and daily posting comes in.
I have five blogs that I maintain on a regular basis. They each provide outlets for different spins on creative pursuits. From day one, I wrote for the purpose of writing. I put it on a blog in case anyone was interested in reading. I enjoyed compliments and feedback and followers, but to this day (9 years and counting) I write for the quality of the content. My blog is public and open to search engines, but I do no marketing of it, nor is it replicated ad infinitum on Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn.
After nine years, my blog stats claim my main, first blog has just over 200 followers, but you know some of them are fake, spam or marketing related.
I am not chasing numbers. I would sooner enjoy a single genuine friend than I would the glowing praise or applause of a thousand distant strangers.
I have learned from the experience and process of blogging. I have peered deeply into my own character to discern my motives, to insure they are genuine, and to help me see the attraction and potential addiction of adulation.
Along the way, I once felt compelled to “put up something”. My posts are inconsistent. They come along in bursts of manic creativity and sometimes languish in the background, in that place where secondary interests lie. I posted something to the affect of “Oh! The blank page! I must write something.”
Honestly. Reduced to dribble?
That was my turning point.
Well, I’ve made a post out of a comment.
My apology for commandeering your blog so.
Good talk.

Well done on managing five blogs, I guess this helps with writing as you can turn to any of them when the inspiration hits. And it sounds like you will have a dedicated and passionate following especially if you don’t advertise it.

I will pop over now to give this one a good look, thank you for the insight and I hope you are having a great weekend.

I’m doing blogging from last 2 years. I have faced so many challenges, challenges and still, I’m learning new things in blogging. When you said 75 million people find you attractive, it gives me more hope. It encourages me, there are endless opportunities. You just need to keep patience and focus on the right path of your success.

You’re absolutely right blogging is not too difficult it takes time and efforts. A good blogger never stops learning and reading.

Thank you so much for this informative and inspiring post. I really enjoyed it. Keep up the good up!

I must admit I hadn’t read this before I wrote your comment on your post about getting hits on this post. I assumed you were contemplating quitting as I did. This is a very relevant topic for bloggers everywhere. I thank you for it and for sticking around ;-). You have a lot of good things to say.

Very true! I started last year and it took me a while to get beyond 10 followers – and now I have over 300. I’m not going to quit, because I love blogging and I love interacting with the WP people as they are quite interesting characters. Great article 🙂

I was asked to blog by an e-magazine more than ten years ago. It was work-related, and once I started that, other work-related requests arose. I started my personal blog (On a Journey–thanks for stopping by and following) six years ago as a way to share my spiritual journey. Blogging is a discipline, and I write almost every day. I post Saturday mornings. I am fascinated by the people who find my blog and I often wonder what touched them enough to follow. I mainly write about God, prayer, faith, cancer, death, grief, hope and vulnerability–and I am surprised when a twenty-something fashion blogger stops by or a forty-years old motorcyclist. I love how bloggers challenge my pre-conceived notions and biases. I feel quite connected to a few bloggers I follow–some who have similar values and life experiences and others who have very different views. I have traveled a fair amount and several friends have suggested I start a travel blog. I would be more likely to incorporate travel posts into On a Journey.

Thank you for this and the insight to your blog, I feel that as long as we are being nice, people that disagree will still be willing to stop by for a chat. For example, I am not religious in the slightest and my earlier posts were mostly about this, but I can totally relate to your posts on grief. We all can relate in some way 🙂

My blog is full of people from all walks of life and I like this variety. This is why I have tried to make my blog as friendly and welcoming as possible. Positivity and kindness is key!

This is so true. When I first started blogging it was actually very easy for me to find bloggers that actually interest me and are also interested in my blog. But now, I barely get up to ten votes, which isn’t really a problem, I know better than to let numbers bring me down but it just seems like I can’t get new bloggers again.

What has changed though? There must be something, whether it is your writing style, your blogging routine, or maybe how much you engage with others, there must be a factor that has led to a lack of recent growth. Like you said figures should never bring us down, but it is good to see the patterns as this helps us to evolve.

My style of writing is still the same, I engage with other bloggers too but my blogging routine is kinda shaky.
And there was a particular period of time though that I took a break off blogging and I guess that’s when I started losing audience. Coupled with the fact that I haven’t really come out to talk about my blog on my social media.

No not at all! I am always questioning certain aspects of blogging and why some days are different to others. It is all part of the process 🙂

If your routine is shaky, that will for sure be one reason. And if you have been absent too. I have taken a few days off as I moved to Melbourne and the views fell quickly. It sounds like what you have been experiencing.

I am sure people value your posts very much, especially if it has as much positivity and honesty as your comment here does. I am glad you didn’t quit, and that you enjoy sharing your experiences on this platform.

Blogging definitely takes patience and growing the follower base is extremely hard nowadays with so many people doing it. However, if that’s the goal, it’s probably worth pursuing, even if it takes time (that applies to any goal, really, not just blogging 🙂 ). I blog mostly to escape the mundane, to tackle my creative writing side, and a way to track our our family adventures. I do love to see likes and followers, but don’t make it my primary objective, just appreciate what i get.

Thanks for the comments here, I agree that a following isn’t as important as simply enjoying to write, but for me I want to get my thoughts out there to as many people as possible and seeing the feedback helps keep this ball rolling. But if you want to simply write to be creative and escape the mundane, keep at it!! I certainly enjoy trying to be creative and 100% do it to escape the mundane 🙂